Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich slammed the “elite” national media for distorting what he said about blacks and food stamps. “You guys have distorted what I said,” Newt said on CBS’ “The Early Show” Friday.

CBS and other outlets reported Thursday that Gingrich said that if were invited to speak to the NAACP, he would tell the civil rights group “why the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps.” On “The Early Show,” Gingrich said he wants a better future for all Americans.

“What I said was every American of every background has been endowed by their creator with a right — every American should have the opportunity to get a job and not be dependent on food stamps and every American of every background should be able to work,” Gingrich said.